Method and apparatus for audio output combining

Abstract

A receiver unit ( 500 ) capable of combining a plurality of streaming data channels includes a receiver and a channel decoder ( 510 ) for receiving over the air in a time division multiplex signal the plurality of streaming data channels. The receiver unit further includes at least one decoder ( 502 ) for decoding at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels to provide a plurality of decoded signals, a combiner ( 508 ) for combining the plurality of decoded signals to provide a combined signal, and an audio output for outputting the combined signal as audio.

1. A method of combining a plurality of streaming data channels, comprising the steps of:
 receiving the plurality of streaming data channels over the air in a time division multiplex signal including at least one streaming data channel containing MIDI data and at least one streaming data channel containing voice data in the form of text-to-speech data; 
 decoding the time division multiplex signal wherein at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels are further decoded using a MIDI decoder for decoding MIDI data and a AMBE decoder for decoding text to speech data to provide a plurality of decoded signals; 
 combining the plurality of decoded signals containing at least MIDI data and voice data to provide a combined signal; and 
 outputting the combined signal as audio. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of converting the plurality of streaming data channel from a digital signal to an analog signal before combining the plurality of decoded signals. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of converting the plurality of streaming data channels from a digital signal to an analog signal after combining the plurality of decoded signals. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of streaming data channels are received as a single stream over the air. 
     
     
       5. A receiver unit capable of combining a plurality of streaming data channels, comprises:
 a receiver and a channel decoder for receiving over the air in a time division multiplex signal the plurality of streaming data channels; 
 at least one MIDI decoder that decodes MIDI data and at least one AMBE decoder that decodes text to speech data for decoding at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels to provide a plurality of decoded signals; 
 a combiner for combining the plurality of decoded signals to provide a combined signal; and 
 an audio output for outputting the combined signal as audio. 
 
     
     
       6. The receiver unit of  claim 5 , wherein the receiver unit further comprises a digital to analog converter for providing an analog signal for each of the plurality of streaming data channels. 
     
     
       7. The receiver unit of  claim 5 , wherein the receiver unit further comprises a digital to analog converter for converting the combined signal from a digital signal to an analog signal. 
     
     
       8. The receiver unit of  claim 5 , wherein the receiver includes a channel decoder. 
     
     
       9. The receiver unit of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of streaming data channels are received over the air. 
     
     
       10. A system for combining a plurality of streaming data channels, comprises:
 at least two encoders for producing streaming data on the plurality of streaming data channels; 
 at least one transmitter for transmitting in a time division multiplex signal the streaming data on the plurality of data channels; and 
 a receiver unit for receiving the streaming data on the plurality of streaming data channels from the time division multiplex signal, wherein the receiver unit comprises:
 a receiver for receiving the plurality of streaming data channels; 
 at least two decoders comprising at least one MIDI decoder that decodes MIDI data and at least one AMBE decoder that decodes text to speech data for decoding at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels to provide a plurality of decoded signals; 
 a combiner for combining the plurality of decoded signals to provide a combined signal; and 
 an audio output for outputting the combined signal as audio. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the streaming data on each of the plurality of streaming data channels is a compressed low bit rate data signal. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the receiver unit further comprises a digital to analog converter for providing an analog signal for each of the plurality of streaming data channels. 
     
     
       13. The receiver unit of  claim 10 , wherein the receiver unit further comprises a digital to analog converter for converting the combined signal from a digital signal to an analog signal. 
     
     
       14. The receiver unit of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two encoders encode voice inputs and the at least one decoder comprises at least two speech decoders. 
     
     
       15. The receiver unit of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one decoder comprises at least a speech decoder and at least a digital music decoder. 
     
     
       16. A method of combining a plurality of streaming data channels, comprising the steps of:
 receiving the plurality of streaming data channels over the air in a time division multiplex signal including at least one streaming data channel containing MIDI data and at least one streaming data channel containing text data; 
 decoding the time division multiplex signal wherein at least two of the plurality of streaming data channels are further decoded using a MIDI decoder for decoding MIDI data and an AMBE decoder for decoding text to speech data to provide a plurality of decoded signals; 
 combining the plurality of decoded signals containing at least MIDI data and text data to provide a combined signal; and 
 outputting the combined signal as audio.